Pilaster



Sept. 19, 1933. w. T. HORMES 1,927,344

PILASTER Filed Nov. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 1933- w; T. HORMES 1,927,344

PILASTER Filed Nov. 12. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PILASTER William T. Hermes, Baltimore, Md.

Application November 12, 1929 Serial No. 406,638

4 Claims.

This invention is a pilaster primarily designed for use in connection with partition structures of the type illustrated in design patents numbered 77,540, 77,541, 77,542 and 77,543 issued January 22,

5 1929, but is not limited to such use.

Partition structures of the type referred to are commonly employed for dividing ofi space in offices, banks, mercantile establishments and the like. Under the present day practice, it is desirable to construct such partitions of sectional units which may be shipped from factory in a more or less knock-down shape, to be assembled at the customers'establishment. The type of partition covered by the patents above identified is distinguished from other types by the fact that the glass extends substantially from the chair rail to the crown, and from pilaster topilaster, excepting for theornamental molds which retain the glassin place. These molds offer very much less surface than is taken in other types of partitions where the glass is inserted in a wood frame, which is either rigidly attached to the lower panel section or else may. be a superimposed item. Knocked-down shipment requires the sending of the cornices in one piece and the lower'panel with or without one of the'pilasters attached as another section. The ornamental moldings which retain the glass in place must all be sent as loose pieces or else the several pieces-are rigidly fasthe glass panels may be shipped and otherwise handled as independent units, until assembled in thefinal'structure. A further object is to provide a partition structure of the character described having spaced apart pilasters so constructed and f 4 arranged that the use of cornices and similar molding for'connecting :thetops of the pilasters is avoided. A further object is to provide partition units consisting of lower panel sections of wood or other material, and upper supplemental sections ofglass or other structure, and means for connecting the. units, such means-comprising a split pilaster having complemental portions attached to theopposite ends of each lower panel section, and of such length that their upper portions project a substantial distance above the lower panel sections, and cooperate with the tops of said lower panel sections to provide a frame for the entire ornamental mold, or other panel supportingmeans, sov as to make it unnecessary to first assemble the moldparts at the factory and aftertened to the crown, pilasters and panelled sections wards disassemble them, and send them loose or with the joints broken. A further object is to provide a pilaster of the character described so constructed that at the time of the insertion of the glass panel, it is only necessary to remove and refasten the mold, bead, or other glass-panel-retaining means, whether plain or ornamental, said bead being always onthe inside, leaving theoutside face, i. e. that which is exposed to the public, showing the original moldings glued in place and with unbroken joints. A further object is to provide apilaster constructed of separable sections which may be readily connected or disconnected, and so constructed that while in assembled relation, its architectural motif will be in no way impaired. A further object is to provide simple means for normally retaining the pilaster sections in assembled relation.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointedout in the .claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

, Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating a partition of the type to which the invention is applied. Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation illustrating a pilaster constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 Figure 2. Figure 4 is a detail View of the connecting means, between the two sections of the pilaster.

Referring to the drawings, the type of partition 8 which has been selected for purposes of illustration consists of a plurality of sections 10,. 10a, joined to an intermediate smaller section 11, the lower panel sections 10, 10a, of wood or other suitable material, joined to a smaller lower panel section 11, the sections 10, 1011 being surmounted with upper supplemental panels 12 of glass, the section 11 being superposed by a supplemental panel consisting of a counter 13 and a grille 14. The respective lower panel sections 10, 10a are constructed as independent but complete units. The contiguous ends of each pair of adjoining lower panel sections are separated by a pilaster P (see Figure 1) which may have any desired ornamental contour. In practice, the lower panel sections are preferably of the approximate height of the common chair rail, or the approximate height usually given to ordinary wainscoating, but this height may be varied as circumstances may require.

Each pilaster P consists of a mainpilaster section 15 and a separable supplemental pilaster section 16, which are originally constructed independently of the lower partition section's. It will 110 be observed that one side of the section 15 is provided with a longitudinal recess 17, into which projects a complemental longitudinal projection 18 carried by the contiguous panel section 11, it being preferred that these complemental portions be permanently secured to each other before leaving the factory, by any suitable means, as for instance by glueing.

The opposite side wall of the section 15 is provided with a longitudinal channel 19, into which extends a complemental longitudinal enlargement 20 on the supplemental pilaster section 16. It is preferred that the last mentioned pilaster section be permanently secured to the adjacent partition section 10 before leaving the factory in a manner similar to the means of securing the main pilaster section 15 to its partition section 11. From the foregoing, it will be noted that each lower panel has secured to one end thereof, a pilaster section 15, and to the other end a pilaster section 16, said pilaster sectionsextending a substantial distance above the top edges of said lower panel sections. While the pilaster sections maybe of any desired contour, it is found that by providing the front and rear faces of the pilasters with longitudinal channels, the supplemental pilaster section 16 may be provided, with longitudinal faces22 forming one side of each of said channels, thereby avoiding any interference with the architectural motif. The glass panels 12 are retained in place by moldings M attached to the top edges of the lower panel sections 10, 10a, and to opposite sides of the upwardly extended portions of the respective pilaster sections, as shown. If desired the lower end of the pilaster may be covered by a removable plinth A, which may be removably secured in place in any desired manner.

The channel 19 of each main pilaster section 15 is provided Withoneor more recesses 23, each having a reduced pocket 24. To the pilaster section 16 is secured one or more hook-like members 25, corresponding to the number of recesses 23, and positioned to extend into the pockets 2% of the'recesses 23. Each recess 23 is provided with a cross plate 26 to be engaged by a complemental hook 25.

By constructing the pilasters of sections, a portion of each pilaster is attached to the edge of a partition unit so that the contiguous edges 1 of two units are connected together. Said pilastersections are attached to the lower panel sections, so that the upper portions of the pilasters cooperate with the top edges of the lower panel sections toprovide frames for the ornamental mold which supports the glass panels. In practice, the

completeunits are preferably shipped to the customer with the glass panels removed, but with the pilaster sections attached to the lower panel sections, and may be erected and supported in any desired manner understood inthe art. After assembling, the glass panels maybe inserted in the respective molds or beads M in a manner well understood in the art. In assembling the units the first .unit erected is one which is provided with a pilaster section equipped with the hooks 25. As shown in the drawings, these hooks are carried by the supplemental section 16, this being the preferred. arrangement. .The next partition section is then placed in position by engaging the bars 23 of said section in engagement with the hooks 25 of the complemental pilaster section, after which the partition section may be secured to the floor in any desired manner. The several units are assembled as described until the complete partition has been erected.

The advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it will be observed that through the use of the split pilaster, portions of each pilaster are attached to the contiguous ends of adjoining units, and are of such length that their upper portions cooperate with the top edges of the lower panel sections to provide a frame for the entire ornamental mold required to support the glass panels 12 or the counter panels 13, 14. This is of particular advantage, because under the common practice, when other types of pilasters are used, and especially where cornices .are required to connect the upper parts of the pilasters, it is necessary to first assemble the mold and attach the same to the pilasters and the lower panel sections, and then to afterwards disassemble them and send them loose or with the joints broken. Under such circumstances, it is practically impossible to completely cover or hide the joints produced in replacing the mold, and the use' of nails is often required. In theabove described structure these objections are all avoided, and at the same time the easy and ready insertion of the glass panels is provided for. Another important advantage is that the pilaster sections may be readily connected or disconnected as occasion may require, and yet, while in assembled relation, the architectural appearance of the pilaster is in no way impaired. A further advantage is that by connecting the units inthe manner described, the upper ends of the pilasters project above the units and are free, so that the use of joining cornices or similar moldings is rendered unnecessary.

Having'thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and'using the same, although without attempting to set'forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is '1. A partition structure of the character described comprising a plurality of lower panel sections arranged end to end, a main pilaster member secured to one vertical edge of each lower said glass panels being free of vision obstructing material, and means for detachably connecting the main pilaster member of each unit with the supplemental pilaster member of an adjacent 2. A partition structure of the character described comprising a plurality of lower panel sections arranged end to end, a main pilaster memmembers for removably securing the lower and end edges of said. glass panels, the top edges of ber secured to one vertical edge of each panel section, a supplemental pilaster member secured to the other vertical edge of each lower panel section, said pilaster members extending'a substantial distance above the plane of the top edges of said lower panel sections, supplemental panel sections superposed upon the lowerpanel sections between the upwardly extended portions of the pilaster members of said sections, the upper ends of the complete pilasters being free and dis connected with respect to each other, and means for detachably connecting the main pilaster member of each unit with the supplemental pilaster member of an adjacent unit.

3. A partition structure of the character described comprising a plurality of lower panel sections arranged end to end, a main pilaster memher having one face secured to one vertical edge of each lower panel section, the opposite face of said pilaster member having a longitudinal channel therein, a supplemental pilaster member having one face secured to the other vertical edge of each lower panel section and having its opposite face provided with a rib complemental to said channel, said pilaster members extending a substantial distance above the plane of the top edges of said lower panel sections, supplemental panel sections superposed upon the lower panel sections and engaging the upwardly extended portions of the pilaster members of the respective sections, and complemental means associated with the rib and channel portions of the respective pilaster members for detachably connecting the main pilaster member of each unit with the supplemental pilaster member of an adjacent unit, the upper ends of the complete pilasters being free and disconnected with respect to each other.

4. A partition structure of the character described comprising a plurality of lower panel sections arranged end to end, a main pilaster member having one face secured to one vertical edge of each lower panel section, the opposite face of said pilaster member having a longitudinal channel therein, a supplemental pilaster member having one face secured to the other vertical edge of each lower panel section and having its opposite face provided with a rib complemental to said channel, said pilaster members extending a substantial distance above the plane of the top edges of said lower panel sections, supplemental panel sections superposed upon the lower panel sections and engaging the upwardly extended portions of the pilaster members of the respective sections, a hook member carried by the rib of the supplemental pilaster member, the channel of the main pilaster member having a recess therein, and a plate extended across said recess and complemental to said hook for detachably connecting the mainrpilaster members of each unit with the supplemental pilaster member of an adjacent unit, the upper ends of the complete pilasters being free and disconnected with respect to each other.

WM. T. HORMES. 

